COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF LUCAN/PALMERSTOWN/FONTHILL AREA COMMITTEE
Tuesday, May 26, 2020
MOTION NO. 11
MOTION: Councillor L. O'Toole
This committee recognises the work to date spent on setting up a new LPF for the Lucan area and asks that the Chief Executive commits to supporting the introduction of this new LPF which had been welcomed and agreed by all and would serve the area well.
Whilst the matter is been consider via the JPC this committee seeks to have in place an interim LPF committee in such way that would accommodate council resources and also greater use of local garda from the Lucan station.
REPORT:
Under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 the Joint Policing Committees Guidelines (Amended August 2014) set out the following in respect of Local Policing Forums:
- Section 36(2)(d) of the Garda Síochána Act (see paragraph 2.1) provides for the establishment of local policing fora by JPCs. The internal procedures of such fora should be similar to those for the JPCs, but to the greatest extent possible be more informal.
- As a general principle, JPCs should ensure that in establishing local policing fora they do not divert scarce resources from the work of the JPCs themselves.
- In accordance with commitments in the National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016, guidelines for the operation of local policing fora in Local Drugs Task Force areas issued in 2009.
The South Dublin County JPC discussed the feasibility of a LPF covering the Lucan sub district area at the JPC held on the 26th April 2019 and the following was minuted:
- Additional LPFs: A LPF for Lucan was raised as was the need for funding to resource it. It was noted that the PPN representatives had agreed to submit a letter to the Department on the issue of resources for LPFs.
- The experience of the Rathfarnham Neighbourhood watch quarterly meeting was described and it was suggested that this could be a model that could be replicated in the Lucan area.
- It was noted that the Gardaí would support the long-term formation of a LPF in Lucan and there is also a strong programme of Neighbourhood Watch development in the Lucan area
A letter from the Chair of the JPC was sent to the Minister for Justice who then referred it to the Policing Authority and a response was received in May 2020 which will be considered at the next JPC Meeting (date to be confirmed). It is not proposed to consider the establishment of an interim LPF committee.